US5064080A - Plastic blow molded freestanding container - Google Patents

Plastic blow molded freestanding container Download PDF

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Publication number
US5064080A
US5064080A US07/614,220 US61422090A US5064080A US 5064080 A US5064080 A US 5064080A US 61422090 A US61422090 A US 61422090A US 5064080 A US5064080 A US 5064080A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
body portion
cylindrical body
legs
hub
diameter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US07/614,220
Inventor
William C. Young
Richard C. Darr
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plastipak Packaging Inc
Original Assignee
Plastipak Packaging Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plastipak Packaging Inc filed Critical Plastipak Packaging Inc
Priority to US07/614,220 priority Critical patent/US5064080A/en
Assigned to PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC. reassignment PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: YOUNG, WILLIAM C., DARR, RICHARD C.
Priority to AU88769/91A priority patent/AU642560B2/en
Priority to JP03518294A priority patent/JP3074020B2/en
Priority to AT91919610T priority patent/ATE141085T1/en
Priority to CA002092817A priority patent/CA2092817C/en
Priority to BR919107091A priority patent/BR9107091A/en
Priority to EP91919610A priority patent/EP0557332B1/en
Priority to DE69121246T priority patent/DE69121246T2/en
Priority to PCT/US1991/007387 priority patent/WO1992008647A1/en
Priority to ES91919610T priority patent/ES2090362T3/en
Priority to KR1019930701452A priority patent/KR0155347B1/en
Priority to US07/771,636 priority patent/US5139162A/en
Priority to NZ240290A priority patent/NZ240290A/en
Priority to ZA918429A priority patent/ZA918429B/en
Priority to IE373091A priority patent/IE73233B1/en
Priority to RU9193034783A priority patent/RU2096288C1/en
Priority to IL99943A priority patent/IL99943A0/en
Priority to MX9101980A priority patent/MX9101980A/en
Priority to PT99476A priority patent/PT99476B/en
Priority to AR91321126A priority patent/AR248374A1/en
Publication of US5064080A publication Critical patent/US5064080A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Priority to US07/915,072 priority patent/US5287978A/en
Priority to FI932189A priority patent/FI109289B/en
Priority to NO931778A priority patent/NO180229C/en
Priority to US08/429,946 priority patent/US5615790A/en
Priority to US08/631,034 priority patent/US5685446A/en
Priority to US08/877,663 priority patent/US5850931A/en
Assigned to COMERICA BANK reassignment COMERICA BANK SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CLEAN TECH, INC., PLASTIPAK HOLDINGS, INC., PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC., TABB REALTY, LLC, WHITELINE EXPRESS, LTD.
Priority to US09/502,100 priority patent/US6260724B1/en
Priority to US09/886,644 priority patent/US6659299B2/en
Priority to US10/689,360 priority patent/US6908002B2/en
Priority to US11/123,322 priority patent/US7198163B2/en
Assigned to COMERICA BANK, AS AGENT reassignment COMERICA BANK, AS AGENT AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT Assignors: CLEAN TECH, INC., PLASTIPAK HOLDINGS, INC., PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC., TABB REALTY, LLC, WHITELINE EXPRESS, LTD.
Priority to US11/688,468 priority patent/US7520400B2/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Assigned to PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC., CLEAN TECH, INC., PLASTIPAK HOLDINGS, INC., TABB REALTY, LLC, WHITELINE EXPRESS, LTD. reassignment PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC. RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: COMERICA BANK, AS AGENT
Assigned to CLEAN TECH, INC., PLASTIPAK HOLDINGS, INC., TABB REALTY, LLC, PLASTIPAK PACKAGING, INC., WHITELINE EXPRESS, LTD. reassignment CLEAN TECH, INC. RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: COMERICA BANK, AS AGENT
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D1/00Containers having bodies formed in one piece, e.g. by casting metallic material, by moulding plastics, by blowing vitreous material, by throwing ceramic material, by moulding pulped fibrous material, by deep-drawing operations performed on sheet material
    • B65D1/02Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents
    • B65D1/0223Bottles or similar containers with necks or like restricted apertures, designed for pouring contents characterised by shape
    • B65D1/0261Bottom construction
    • B65D1/0284Bottom construction having a discontinuous contact surface, e.g. discrete feet

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a plastic blow molded container having a freestanding base structure for supporting the container while being capable of withstanding internal pressure
  • Blow molded containers capable of withstanding pressure have also been manufactured with freestanding base structures that are unitary with the container body such as disclosed by Adomaitis U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,270; Carmichael U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,783; Uhilig U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,410; Adomaitis U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,541; and Das U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,955.
  • These patents disclose relatively early attempts to design a freestanding blow molded container capable of withstanding internal pressure by the provision of circumferentially spaced legs having lower feet on which the container is supported.
  • United Kingdom patent application GB2189214A discloses a plastic blow molded container having a unitary base structure with a recess defined by a peripheral wall and a convex bottom wall. This recess is disclosed as functioning to centralize the preform used to blow mold the container and to also prevent the lower gate area through which the preform is injection molded from becoming the lowest portion of the container in a manner that could adversely affect stability.
  • the plastic blow molded container incorporating the invention has a central axis A and includes a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D.
  • An upper end closure of the container is unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and includes a dispensing spout through which the container is filled and through which the container contents are subsequently dispensed as needed.
  • a freestanding base structure of the container is unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof and is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • the freestanding base structure of the invention includes a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion.
  • Each leg has a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position.
  • the lower flat feet have an outer diameter D f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping.
  • Each leg also has an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion.
  • the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg have an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature R j less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • Each leg also has a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of its flat foot A pair of side walls of each leg cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the planar inner connecting portion thereof to close the leg.
  • the freestanding base structure of the container also includes a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs.
  • Each rib has an outer end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container.
  • Each rib also has an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides of the legs and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container.
  • Each rib also has a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape.
  • a generally round hub of the freestanding base structure of the container is located along the central axis A with the legs and the curved ribs of the base structure extending radially in an outward direction from the hub.
  • This hub has a diameter D in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • the hub also has connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also has connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
  • the freestanding base structure of the plastic blow molded container as described above provides good stability against tipping which is especially useful prior to filling when the container is empty and being moved along a filling line, and the freestanding base structure has a construction and wall thickness that is capable of withstanding internal pressure after filling.
  • the hub includes a round upper wall and an annular wall having an upper end connected to its upper wall, and the annular extends downwardly from the upper wall with an inclination of at least 45° with respect to the flat feet of the legs.
  • the annular wall of the hub has a lower end connected to the planar inner connecting portions of the legs and also connected to the inner ends of the curved ribs.
  • the upper wall of the hub is spaced above the flat feet of the legs by a height H h1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • the lower end of the annular wall of the hub is preferably spaced above the flat feet of the legs by a height H h2 in the range of about 0.35 to 0.65 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Best results are achieved when the container is constructed with the height H h1 about 0.1 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, the height H h2 in the range of about 0.04 to 0.06 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, and the annular wall of the hub having an inclination of at least 60° with respect to the flat feet of the legs.
  • the hub of the freestanding base structure has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally and includes a periphery connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
  • This flat hub is preferably spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height H h that is in the range of about .035 to .065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • the hub of the freestanding base structure has a downwardly extending shape including a periphery connected to the inwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
  • This downwardly extending hub preferably has a curved shape which most preferably has a radius of curvature that is less than one-half of the radius of curvature of the curved intermediate portion of each rib.
  • the downwardly extending hub preferably has a curved lower extremity that is spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height H h that is in the range of about .025 to .035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • Each embodiment of the plastic blow molded container has the cylindrical body portion provided with a nominal wall thickness t and has the inner extremities of the flat feet, the planar inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs and the hub each provided with a wall thickness t' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.
  • Each embodiment of the plastic blow molded container has the lower flat foot of each leg provided with a truncated wedge shape and each curved rib has a generally flat cross section between its ends.
  • the outer wall of each leg has a curved shape including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion.
  • This outer wall of each leg preferably has a radius of curvature R W greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • Each rib of the preferred construction of the container has a radius of curvature R r greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and has a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib.
  • each embodiment of the plastic blow molded container is disclosed as including an odd number of legs and ribs with each leg located in a diametrically opposite relationship to an associated rib.
  • Five legs and five ribs make up the freestanding base structure of each disclosed embodiment with each leg being located diametrically opposite an associated rib and with the legs and ribs extending radially from the hub in a circumferentially alternating relationship.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevational view taken partially in section through one embodiment of a plastic blow molded container which includes a freestanding base structure constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 and further illustrates the construction of the freestanding base structure which has a central round hub that is illustrated as having an upwardly extending construction;
  • FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the container taken along the direction of line 3--3 in FIG. 2 to further illustrate the construction of the freestanding base structure;
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the direction of line 4--4 in FIG. 2 to illustrate the construction of ribs that are located between legs of the freestanding base structure;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating another embodiment of the blow molded container wherein the central round hub of the freestanding base structure has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally;
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the container taken along the direction of line 6--6 in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in the same direction as FIGS. 2 and 5 but illustrating a further embodiment wherein the central round hub of the freestanding base structure has a downwardly extending construction;
  • FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view taken along the direction of line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
  • a plastic blow molded container constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by 10 and has a central axis A that extends vertically with the container supported on a horizontal surface 12 as shown.
  • the plastic blow molded container 10 includes a cylindrical body portion 14 that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D.
  • An upper end closure 16 of the container is unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion 14 and includes a dispensing spout which is illustrated as having a thread 18 for securing an unshown cap-type closure.
  • the container also includes a freestanding base structure 20 constructed according to the present invention and unitary with the cylindrical body portion 14 to close its lower extremity.
  • This freestanding base structure 20 as is more fully hereinafter described has the capability to provide good stability against tipping, which is especially desirable when the container is empty and being conveyed upright after manufacturing thereof and during movement through a filling line, and the freestanding base structure is also capable of withstanding internal pressure such as when the container is filled with carbonated beverage.
  • the freestanding base structure 20 includes a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs 22 spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion.
  • Each leg 22 has a lower flat foot 24 coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position such as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the lower flat feet 24 have an outer diameter D f that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability of the container against tipping.
  • Each leg 22 also has an outer wall 26 that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot 24 thereof to the cylindrical body portion 14.
  • the flat foot 24 and the outer wall 26 of each leg 22 have an abruptly curved junction 28 best shown in FIG. 2.
  • This junction 28 has a radius of curvature R j at the outer surface of the container less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • Each leg 22 also has a planar inner connecting portion 30 that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of its flat foot 24. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each leg 22 also has a pair of side walls 32 that cooperate with the lower foot 24, the outer wall 26 and the inner planar connecting portion 30 to close the leg.
  • the freestanding base structure 20 also includes a plurality of curved ribs 34 spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs 22 and connecting the adjacent side walls 32 of the legs.
  • Each rib 34 as shown best in FIG. 2 has an outer upper end 36 that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion 14 of the container.
  • Each rib 34 also has an inner lower end 38 located between the inner connecting portions 30 of the legs 22 on opposite sides thereof as shown in FIG. 3 and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container.
  • each rib 34 also has a curved intermediate portion 40 that extends between the outer and inner ends 36 and 38 thereof with an outwardly convex shape.
  • the freestanding base structure 20 of the container also includes a generally round hub 41 located along the central axis A with the legs 22 and curved ribs 34 extending radially therefrom in a circumferentially alternating relationship to each other.
  • This hub 41 has a diameter D h in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • Hub 41 also includes connections 42 to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs, and the hub also has connections 43 to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs.
  • the hub 41 of the freestanding base structure has an upwardly extending shape whose periphery is connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs as described above.
  • This upwardly extending hub 41 includes a round upper wall 44 and an annular wall 46 having an upper end connected to the upper wall thereof and extending downwardly therefrom with an inclination of at least 45° with respect to the flat feet 24 of the legs 22.
  • Annular wall 46 of the hub 41 also has a lower end connected to the inner connecting portions 30 of the feet 22 and to the inner ends 38 of the curved ribs 34.
  • the upper wall 44 of the hub 41 is spaced above the plane of the flat feet 24 of the legs 22 by a height H h1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • H h1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • These sizes of the diameter D h and the height H h1 of the freestanding base construction described above are important to ensure that the preform from which the container is made can be expanded to define the junctions 28 between the outer extremities of the feet 24 and the outer walls 26 with a sufficiently thick wall thickness so as to have the requisite strength.
  • the lower end of the annular wall 46 of the hub 41 is spaced above the plane of the flat feet 24 by a height H h2 in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • This size of the height H h2 maintains the center of the container spaced upwardly from the surface 12 sufficiently so that the sprue nub 48, which is used in the injection molding of the preform utilized to blow mold the container, is spaced sufficiently above the support surface 12 so that the feet 24 are maintained in their coplanar relationship in surface-to-surface engagement with the support surface.
  • Best results are achieved when the height H h1 is about 0.1 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, the height H h2 is in the range of about 0.04 to 0.06 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and the annular wall 46 of the hub has an inclination of at least 60° with respect to the flat feet 24 of the legs. As disclosed, the annular wall 46 of the hub has an inclination of about 76° with respect to the flat feet 24 of the legs.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 another embodiment of the container 10' has much of the same construction as the previously described embodiment except as will be noted and thus has like reference numerals identifying like components thereof such that the previous description is applicable and need not be repeated.
  • the hub 41' of the freestanding base structure 20' of this embodiment has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally as opposed to an upwardly extending shape as with the previously described embodiment.
  • This horizontally extending flat hub 41' has a periphery connected by the connections 42 to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs and by the connections 43 to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs.
  • the flat hub 41' is spaced above the plane of the lower feet 24 by a height H h that is in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion so as to thus be located above the support surface 12 sufficiently far so that the injection molding sprue nub 48' does not adversely affect stability of the container. Otherwise, this embodiment of the container 10' shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is the same as the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 a further embodiment of the container 10" also has generally the same construction as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 except as will be noted such that like reference numerals are applied to like components thereof and much of the previous description is applicable and thus will not be repeated.
  • the plastic blow molded container 10" illustrated in FIG. 7 and 8 has its generally round hub 41" located along the central axis A provided with a downwardly extending shape whose periphery is connected by the connections 42 to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs and by the connections 43 to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs. More specifically as best illustrated in FIG.
  • the central hub 41" preferably has a curved shape and most preferably has a radius of curvature R that is less than one-half the radius of curvature R r of the curved intermediate portion 40 of each rib 34. Furthermore, the downwardly extending hub 41" has a curved lower extremity spaced above the plane of the flat feet 24 by a height H h that is in the range of about 0.025 to 0.035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion such that the injection molding sprue nub 48" is spaced above the support surface 12 so as not to adversely affect stability of the container.
  • the radius of curvature R h of the downwardly extending hub 41" is about one-third the radius of curvature R r of the intermediate portion 40 of the rib 34 which, as is hereinafter described, is greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion 14.
  • the cylindrical body portion 14 of the container 10, 10' and 10" has a nominal wall thickness t which is normally in the range of about 0.009 to 0.011 of an inch.
  • the construction of the freestanding base structure 20 has the inner extremities of the flat feet 24, the inner connecting portions 30 of the legs, the inner lower ends 38 of the curved ribs 34 and the associated hub 41, 41' and 41" each provided with a wall thickness t' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion and preferably about 2 times the nominal wall thickness t.
  • each container embodiment has its freestanding base structure constructed such that the lower flat foot 24 of each leg 22 has a truncated wedge shape whose truncated inner end terminates at the associated planar inner connecting portion 30 of the foot and whose curved outer end is defined at the junction 28 with the associated outer wall 26.
  • each leg 22 has a curved shape including an upper end 50 that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion 14 of the container.
  • the curvature of this outer wall 26 as well as the curvature of each rib 34 constitute features that enable the freestanding base structure to have good stability as well as the strength to withstand internal pressure as part of the construction previously described.
  • the outer wall 26 of each foot has a radius of curvature R W greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion so that the outer diameter D f of the flat feet 24 can be as large as possible when the junction 28 is constructed as described previously with a radius of curvature R j of less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
  • each rib 34 has a radius of curvature R r greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib.
  • the freestanding base 20 of the container 10 is disclosed as including an odd number of legs 22 and ribs 24 with each leg 22 located in a diametrically opposite relationship to the associated rib about the central axis A. More specifically, the containers 10, 10' and 10" are each illustrated as including five legs 22 and five ribs 34 which is the preferred number so as to provide best stability against tipping such as when supported on refrigerator wire shelves or other discontinuous supports.

Abstract

A plastic blow molded container (10) is disclosed as including a freestanding base structure (20) that is constructed with a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs 22, a plurality of curved ribs (34) located between the legs, and a hub 41 from which the legs and ribs extend radially with a construction that provides good stability against tipping as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure. Each leg (22) has a lower flat foot (24) coplanar with the other feet and the feet have an outer diameter Df that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Each flat foot (24) also has a junction (28) with an associated outer wall (26) of the foot and this junction has a radius of curvature Rj less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. A planar inner connecting portion (30) of each foot (22) is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly to the hub (41) while side walls (32) of the legs are connected to the curved ribs (34) which each have a curved intermediate portion that extends between outer and inner ends (36,38) of the rib along a curved intermediate rib portion (40). On one embodiment the hub (41) has an upwardly extending shape; in another embodiment the hub (41') has a flat horizontally extending shape; and in a further embodiment the hub (41") has a downwardly extending shape. The specific construction disclosed of the legs (22), ribs (34) and hub (41, 41', 41") enhance the capability of the base structure in providing good stability as well as the capability of withstanding internal pressure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a plastic blow molded container having a freestanding base structure for supporting the container while being capable of withstanding internal pressure
BACKGROUND ART
Conventional plastic blow molded containers for holding carbonated beverages that pressurize the container for the most part in the past have been manufactured as base cup containers wherein the lower extremity of the blow molded container has a hemispherical shape that is received within an injection molded plastic base cup which supports the container during use. Such a base cup permits the hemispherical shape to be utilized to provide the requisite strength for withstanding the internal pressure while still providing a flat surface on which the container can be supported in an upright position. While such containers function satisfactorily, there is a cost involved in both manufacturing and assembling the base cup to the blow molded container and such cost must necessarily be included in the price to the consumer.
Blow molded containers capable of withstanding pressure have also been manufactured with freestanding base structures that are unitary with the container body such as disclosed by Adomaitis U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,270; Carmichael U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,783; Uhilig U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,410; Adomaitis U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,541; and Das U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,955. These patents disclose relatively early attempts to design a freestanding blow molded container capable of withstanding internal pressure by the provision of circumferentially spaced legs having lower feet on which the container is supported.
More recent plastic blow molded containers having freestanding base structures are disclosed by German Offenlegungsschrift 29 20 122 and by Pocock et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,667; Collette et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,144; Michel U.S. Pat. No. 4,276,987; Chang U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,366; Snyder et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,318,489; Collette et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,821; Motill U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,825; Krishnakumar et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,949; Miller et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,950; Howard, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,494; Howard, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,493; Powers U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,323; and Collette et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,054.
Certain of the containers disclosed by the above patents have flat feet on which the freestanding base structure is supported. However, some of the structures involved deflect under the pressure such that it is necessary to incline the lower feet upwardly in an inward direction as disclosed by Behm et al U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,206 so that the feet deflect downwardly to a coplanar relationship with each other upon being subjected to the internal pressure when the container is filled.
Also, United Kingdom patent application GB2189214A discloses a plastic blow molded container having a unitary base structure with a recess defined by a peripheral wall and a convex bottom wall. This recess is disclosed as functioning to centralize the preform used to blow mold the container and to also prevent the lower gate area through which the preform is injection molded from becoming the lowest portion of the container in a manner that could adversely affect stability.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved plastic blow molded container having a freestanding base structure that provides good stability to the container even when subjected to internal pressure.
In carrying out the above object, the plastic blow molded container incorporating the invention has a central axis A and includes a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D. An upper end closure of the container is unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and includes a dispensing spout through which the container is filled and through which the container contents are subsequently dispensed as needed. A freestanding base structure of the container is unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof and is constructed in accordance with the present invention.
The freestanding base structure of the invention includes a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion. Each leg has a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position. The lower flat feet have an outer diameter Df that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping. Each leg also has an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion. The flat foot and the outer wall of each leg have an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature Rj less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Each leg also has a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of its flat foot A pair of side walls of each leg cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the planar inner connecting portion thereof to close the leg.
The freestanding base structure of the container also includes a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs. Each rib has an outer end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container. Each rib also has an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides of the legs and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container. Each rib also has a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape.
A generally round hub of the freestanding base structure of the container is located along the central axis A with the legs and the curved ribs of the base structure extending radially in an outward direction from the hub. This hub has a diameter D in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. The hub also has connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also has connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
The freestanding base structure of the plastic blow molded container as described above provides good stability against tipping which is especially useful prior to filling when the container is empty and being moved along a filling line, and the freestanding base structure has a construction and wall thickness that is capable of withstanding internal pressure after filling.
In one preferred embodiment, the hub includes a round upper wall and an annular wall having an upper end connected to its upper wall, and the annular extends downwardly from the upper wall with an inclination of at least 45° with respect to the flat feet of the legs. The annular wall of the hub has a lower end connected to the planar inner connecting portions of the legs and also connected to the inner ends of the curved ribs. Furthermore, the upper wall of the hub is spaced above the flat feet of the legs by a height Hh1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. In addition, the lower end of the annular wall of the hub is preferably spaced above the flat feet of the legs by a height Hh2 in the range of about 0.35 to 0.65 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Best results are achieved when the container is constructed with the height Hh1 about 0.1 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, the height Hh2 in the range of about 0.04 to 0.06 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, and the annular wall of the hub having an inclination of at least 60° with respect to the flat feet of the legs.
In another preferred embodiment of the plastic blow molded container, the hub of the freestanding base structure has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally and includes a periphery connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs. This flat hub is preferably spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height Hh that is in the range of about .035 to .065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
In a further embodiment of the plastic blow molded container, the hub of the freestanding base structure has a downwardly extending shape including a periphery connected to the inwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs. This downwardly extending hub preferably has a curved shape which most preferably has a radius of curvature that is less than one-half of the radius of curvature of the curved intermediate portion of each rib. Furthermore, the downwardly extending hub preferably has a curved lower extremity that is spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height Hh that is in the range of about .025 to .035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
Each embodiment of the plastic blow molded container has the cylindrical body portion provided with a nominal wall thickness t and has the inner extremities of the flat feet, the planar inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs and the hub each provided with a wall thickness t' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.
Each embodiment of the plastic blow molded container has the lower flat foot of each leg provided with a truncated wedge shape and each curved rib has a generally flat cross section between its ends. The outer wall of each leg has a curved shape including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion. This outer wall of each leg preferably has a radius of curvature RW greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Each rib of the preferred construction of the container has a radius of curvature Rr greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and has a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib.
The preferred construction of each embodiment of the plastic blow molded container is disclosed as including an odd number of legs and ribs with each leg located in a diametrically opposite relationship to an associated rib. Five legs and five ribs make up the freestanding base structure of each disclosed embodiment with each leg being located diametrically opposite an associated rib and with the legs and ribs extending radially from the hub in a circumferentially alternating relationship.
The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view taken partially in section through one embodiment of a plastic blow molded container which includes a freestanding base structure constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1 and further illustrates the construction of the freestanding base structure which has a central round hub that is illustrated as having an upwardly extending construction;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the container taken along the direction of line 3--3 in FIG. 2 to further illustrate the construction of the freestanding base structure;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the direction of line 4--4 in FIG. 2 to illustrate the construction of ribs that are located between legs of the freestanding base structure;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating another embodiment of the blow molded container wherein the central round hub of the freestanding base structure has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally;
FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the container taken along the direction of line 6--6 in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken in the same direction as FIGS. 2 and 5 but illustrating a further embodiment wherein the central round hub of the freestanding base structure has a downwardly extending construction; and
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view taken along the direction of line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a plastic blow molded container constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated by 10 and has a central axis A that extends vertically with the container supported on a horizontal surface 12 as shown. The plastic blow molded container 10 includes a cylindrical body portion 14 that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D. An upper end closure 16 of the container is unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion 14 and includes a dispensing spout which is illustrated as having a thread 18 for securing an unshown cap-type closure. The container also includes a freestanding base structure 20 constructed according to the present invention and unitary with the cylindrical body portion 14 to close its lower extremity. This freestanding base structure 20 as is more fully hereinafter described has the capability to provide good stability against tipping, which is especially desirable when the container is empty and being conveyed upright after manufacturing thereof and during movement through a filling line, and the freestanding base structure is also capable of withstanding internal pressure such as when the container is filled with carbonated beverage.
With combined reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, the freestanding base structure 20 includes a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs 22 spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion. Each leg 22 has a lower flat foot 24 coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position such as shown in FIG. 1. The lower flat feet 24 have an outer diameter Df that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability of the container against tipping. Each leg 22 also has an outer wall 26 that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot 24 thereof to the cylindrical body portion 14. The flat foot 24 and the outer wall 26 of each leg 22 have an abruptly curved junction 28 best shown in FIG. 2. This junction 28 has a radius of curvature Rj at the outer surface of the container less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Each leg 22 also has a planar inner connecting portion 30 that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of its flat foot 24. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each leg 22 also has a pair of side walls 32 that cooperate with the lower foot 24, the outer wall 26 and the inner planar connecting portion 30 to close the leg.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the freestanding base structure 20 also includes a plurality of curved ribs 34 spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs 22 and connecting the adjacent side walls 32 of the legs. Each rib 34 as shown best in FIG. 2 has an outer upper end 36 that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion 14 of the container. Each rib 34 also has an inner lower end 38 located between the inner connecting portions 30 of the legs 22 on opposite sides thereof as shown in FIG. 3 and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container. As best shown in FIG. 2, each rib 34 also has a curved intermediate portion 40 that extends between the outer and inner ends 36 and 38 thereof with an outwardly convex shape.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the freestanding base structure 20 of the container also includes a generally round hub 41 located along the central axis A with the legs 22 and curved ribs 34 extending radially therefrom in a circumferentially alternating relationship to each other. This hub 41 has a diameter Dh in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Hub 41 also includes connections 42 to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs, and the hub also has connections 43 to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs.
In the embodiment of the container shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hub 41 of the freestanding base structure has an upwardly extending shape whose periphery is connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs as described above. This upwardly extending hub 41 includes a round upper wall 44 and an annular wall 46 having an upper end connected to the upper wall thereof and extending downwardly therefrom with an inclination of at least 45° with respect to the flat feet 24 of the legs 22. Annular wall 46 of the hub 41 also has a lower end connected to the inner connecting portions 30 of the feet 22 and to the inner ends 38 of the curved ribs 34. The upper wall 44 of the hub 41 is spaced above the plane of the flat feet 24 of the legs 22 by a height Hh1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. These sizes of the diameter Dh and the height Hh1 of the freestanding base construction described above are important to ensure that the preform from which the container is made can be expanded to define the junctions 28 between the outer extremities of the feet 24 and the outer walls 26 with a sufficiently thick wall thickness so as to have the requisite strength. Furthermore, the lower end of the annular wall 46 of the hub 41 is spaced above the plane of the flat feet 24 by a height Hh2 in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. This size of the height Hh2 maintains the center of the container spaced upwardly from the surface 12 sufficiently so that the sprue nub 48, which is used in the injection molding of the preform utilized to blow mold the container, is spaced sufficiently above the support surface 12 so that the feet 24 are maintained in their coplanar relationship in surface-to-surface engagement with the support surface. Best results are achieved when the height Hh1 is about 0.1 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, the height Hh2 is in the range of about 0.04 to 0.06 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and the annular wall 46 of the hub has an inclination of at least 60° with respect to the flat feet 24 of the legs. As disclosed, the annular wall 46 of the hub has an inclination of about 76° with respect to the flat feet 24 of the legs.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the container 10' has much of the same construction as the previously described embodiment except as will be noted and thus has like reference numerals identifying like components thereof such that the previous description is applicable and need not be repeated. However the hub 41' of the freestanding base structure 20' of this embodiment has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally as opposed to an upwardly extending shape as with the previously described embodiment. This horizontally extending flat hub 41' has a periphery connected by the connections 42 to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs and by the connections 43 to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs. The flat hub 41' is spaced above the plane of the lower feet 24 by a height Hh that is in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion so as to thus be located above the support surface 12 sufficiently far so that the injection molding sprue nub 48' does not adversely affect stability of the container. Otherwise, this embodiment of the container 10' shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is the same as the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4.
With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a further embodiment of the container 10" also has generally the same construction as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 except as will be noted such that like reference numerals are applied to like components thereof and much of the previous description is applicable and thus will not be repeated. The plastic blow molded container 10" illustrated in FIG. 7 and 8 has its generally round hub 41" located along the central axis A provided with a downwardly extending shape whose periphery is connected by the connections 42 to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions 30 of the legs and by the connections 43 to the downwardly extending inner ends 38 of the curved ribs. More specifically as best illustrated in FIG. 7, the central hub 41" preferably has a curved shape and most preferably has a radius of curvature R that is less than one-half the radius of curvature Rr of the curved intermediate portion 40 of each rib 34. Furthermore, the downwardly extending hub 41" has a curved lower extremity spaced above the plane of the flat feet 24 by a height Hh that is in the range of about 0.025 to 0.035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion such that the injection molding sprue nub 48" is spaced above the support surface 12 so as not to adversely affect stability of the container. In the specific construction disclosed, the radius of curvature Rh of the downwardly extending hub 41" is about one-third the radius of curvature Rr of the intermediate portion 40 of the rib 34 which, as is hereinafter described, is greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion 14.
In each of the embodiments described above as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, the cylindrical body portion 14 of the container 10, 10' and 10" has a nominal wall thickness t which is normally in the range of about 0.009 to 0.011 of an inch. The construction of the freestanding base structure 20 has the inner extremities of the flat feet 24, the inner connecting portions 30 of the legs, the inner lower ends 38 of the curved ribs 34 and the associated hub 41, 41' and 41" each provided with a wall thickness t' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion and preferably about 2 times the nominal wall thickness t.
With reference to FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, each container embodiment has its freestanding base structure constructed such that the lower flat foot 24 of each leg 22 has a truncated wedge shape whose truncated inner end terminates at the associated planar inner connecting portion 30 of the foot and whose curved outer end is defined at the junction 28 with the associated outer wall 26.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, each rib 34 between the adjacent pair of leg side walls 32 has its curved shape provided with a flat cross section along the intermediate rib portion 40 between its ends. This flat cross section of each rib 34 thus extends from its outer upper end 36 along the intermediate rib portion 40 to its inner lower end 38 at the junction with the lower end of the annular wall 46 of the hub 42. The flat rib cross-section shown in FIG. 4 is illustrative of the construction of each container embodiment 10, 10' and 10".
As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 7, the outer wall 26 of each leg 22 has a curved shape including an upper end 50 that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion 14 of the container. The curvature of this outer wall 26 as well as the curvature of each rib 34 constitute features that enable the freestanding base structure to have good stability as well as the strength to withstand internal pressure as part of the construction previously described. More specifically, the outer wall 26 of each foot has a radius of curvature RW greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion so that the outer diameter Df of the flat feet 24 can be as large as possible when the junction 28 is constructed as described previously with a radius of curvature Rj of less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion. Furthermore, each rib 34 has a radius of curvature Rr greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 6 and 8, the freestanding base 20 of the container 10 is disclosed as including an odd number of legs 22 and ribs 24 with each leg 22 located in a diametrically opposite relationship to the associated rib about the central axis A. More specifically, the containers 10, 10' and 10" are each illustrated as including five legs 22 and five ribs 34 which is the preferred number so as to provide best stability against tipping such as when supported on refrigerator wire shelves or other discontinuous supports.
The blow molded containers 10, 10' and 10" shown are manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate by injection stretch blow molding. This produces a biaxially oriented container wall with increased strength and the capability of withstanding internal pressure when made with the freestanding base structure as described above.
While the best modes for practicing the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:
1. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:
a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion; each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position; the lower flat feet having an outer diameter Df that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping; each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion; the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature Rj less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the inner planar connecting portion to lose the leg;
a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs; each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container; each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and
a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom; said hub having a diameter Dh in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and the hub having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
2. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 wherein the hub of the base structure has an upwardly extending shape including a periphery connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
3. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 2 wherein the upwardly extending hub includes a round upper wall and an annular wall having an upper end connected to the upper wall thereof and extending downwardly therefrom with an inclination of at least 45° with respect to the flat feet of the legs, and the upper wall of the hub being spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height Hh1 in the range of about 0.08 to 0.12 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
4. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 3 wherein the lower end of the annular wall of the hub is spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height HH2 in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
5. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 4 wherein the height Hh1 is about 0.1 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion, the height Hh2 is in the range of about 0.04 to 0.06 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and wherein the annular wall of the hub has an inclination of at least 60° with respect to the flat feet of the legs.
6. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 wherein the hub has a generally flat shape that extends horizontally and has a periphery connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
7. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 6 wherein the flat hub is spaced above the plane of the flat feet by a height Hh that is in the range of about 0.035 to 0.065 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
8. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 wherein the hub has a downwardly extending shape including a periphery connected to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
9. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 8 wherein the downwardly extending hub has a curved shape.
10. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 9 wherein the curved shape of the downwardly extending hub has a radius of curvature that is less than one-half the radius of curvature of the curved intermediate portion of each rib, and the downwardly extending hub having a curved lower extremity that is spaced above the plane of the flat feet of the legs by a height Hh that is in the range of about 0.025 to 0.035 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
11. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 wherein the cylindrical body portion has a nominal wall thickness t and wherein the planar inner extremities of the flat feet, the inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs, and the hub each has a wall thickness t' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.
12. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 wherein the lower flat foot of each leg has a truncated wedge shape.
13. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 or 12 wherein each curved rib has a generally flat cross section between its ends.
14. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1 wherein the outer wall of each leg has a curved shape including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion.
15. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 14 wherein the outer wall of each leg has a radius of curvature RW greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion.
16. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1, 14 or 15 wherein each rib has a radius of curvature Rr greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib.
17. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 1, 14 or 15 which includes an odd number of legs and ribs with each leg located in a diametrical opposite relationship to an associated rib.
18. A plastic blow molded container as in claim 17 which includes five legs and five ribs.
19. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:
a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion; each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position; each lower flat foot having a truncated wedge shape; the lower flat feet having an outer diameter Df that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping; each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion; the outer wall of each leg having a curved shape with a radius of curvature RW greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion; the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature Rj less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the planar inner connecting portion to close the leg;
a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs; each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container; each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof; each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape; and each rib having a radius of curvature Rr greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib and extending downwardly and inwardly from toward the central axis A of the container; and
a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom; said hub having a diameter Dh in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and the hub also having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs.
20. In a plastic blow molded container having a central axis A and including a cylindrical body portion that extends vertically about the central axis A with a diameter D and has a nominal wall thickness t, an upper end closure unitary with the upper extremity of the cylindrical body portion and including a dispensing spout, and a freestanding base structure unitary with the cylindrical body portion to close the lower extremity thereof, said freestanding base structure comprising:
a plurality of downwardly projecting hollow legs spaced circumferentially from each other with respect to the body portion; each leg having a lower flat foot coplanar with the feet of the other legs to cooperate therewith in supporting the container in an upright position; each lower flat foot having a truncated wedge shape; the lower flat feet having an outer diameter Df that is at least 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion to provide good stability against tipping; each leg also having an outer wall that extends from the outer extremity of the flat foot thereof to the cylindrical body portion; the outer wall of each leg having a curved shape with a radius of curvature RW greater than 0.75 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and including an upper end that is tangent with the adjacent portion of the lower extremity of the cylindrical body portion; the flat foot and the outer wall of each leg having an abruptly curved junction with a radius of curvature Rj less than 0.05 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; each leg also having a planar inner connecting portion that is inclined and extends upwardly and inwardly from the inner extremity of the flat foot thereof; and each leg also having a pair of side walls that cooperate with the flat foot, the outer wall and the planar inner connecting portion to close the leg;
a plurality of curved ribs spaced circumferentially from each other between the downwardly projecting legs and connecting the adjacent side walls of the legs; each rib having an outer upper end that extends upwardly and is connected to the cylindrical body portion of the container; each rib also having an inner lower end located between the inner connecting portions of the legs on opposite sides thereof and extending downwardly and inwardly toward the central axis A of the container; and each rib also having a curved intermediate portion that extends between the outer and inner ends thereof with an outwardly convex shape and each rib having a radius of curvature Rr greater than about 0.6 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion and with a center of curvature on the opposite side of the central axis A from the rib;
a generally round hub that is located along the central axis A with the legs and curved ribs extending radially therefrom; said hub having a diameter Dh in the range of about 0.15 to 0.25 of the diameter D of the cylindrical body portion; and the hub having connections to the upwardly extending planar inner connecting portions of the legs and the hub also having connections to the downwardly extending inner ends of the curved ribs; and
the inner extremities of the flat feet, the planar inner connecting portions of the legs, the inner lower ends of the curved ribs, and the hub each having a wall thickness t' that is at least 1.7 times the nominal wall thickness t of the cylindrical body portion.
US07/614,220 1990-11-15 1990-11-15 Plastic blow molded freestanding container Expired - Lifetime US5064080A (en)

Priority Applications (31)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/614,220 US5064080A (en) 1990-11-15 1990-11-15 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
PCT/US1991/007387 WO1992008647A1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
KR1019930701452A KR0155347B1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
AT91919610T ATE141085T1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 PLASTIC BLOW MOLDED FREESTANDING CONTAINER
CA002092817A CA2092817C (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
BR919107091A BR9107091A (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 INSULATED MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINER
EP91919610A EP0557332B1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
DE69121246T DE69121246T2 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 FREE-STANDING CONTAINER IN BLOW-MOLDED PLASTIC
AU88769/91A AU642560B2 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
ES91919610T ES2090362T3 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 SELF-SUPPORTING PLASTIC CONTAINER MOLDED BY BLOWING.
JP03518294A JP3074020B2 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-03 Blow molding freestanding plastic container
US07/771,636 US5139162A (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-04 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
NZ240290A NZ240290A (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-21 Plastic blow molded container with hollow legs and curved ribs providing stability against tipping and withstanding internal pressure
ZA918429A ZA918429B (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-22 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
IE373091A IE73233B1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-24 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
RU9193034783A RU2096288C1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-30 Plastic blow-moulded container
IL99943A IL99943A0 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-11-01 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
MX9101980A MX9101980A (en) 1990-11-15 1991-11-08 SELF-STABLE PLASTIC CONTAINER, BLOW MOLDED
PT99476A PT99476B (en) 1990-11-15 1991-11-11 ZIPPER
AR91321126A AR248374A1 (en) 1990-11-15 1991-11-11 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US07/915,072 US5287978A (en) 1990-11-15 1992-07-16 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
FI932189A FI109289B (en) 1990-11-15 1993-05-13 Plastic blow molded free standing container
NO931778A NO180229C (en) 1990-11-15 1993-05-14 Molded plastic container
US08/429,946 US5615790A (en) 1990-11-15 1995-04-27 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US08/631,034 US5685446A (en) 1990-11-15 1996-04-18 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US08/877,663 US5850931A (en) 1990-11-15 1997-06-18 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US09/502,100 US6260724B1 (en) 1990-11-15 2000-02-10 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US09/886,644 US6659299B2 (en) 1990-11-15 2001-06-21 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US10/689,360 US6908002B2 (en) 1990-11-15 2003-10-20 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US11/123,322 US7198163B2 (en) 1990-11-15 2005-05-06 Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US11/688,468 US7520400B2 (en) 1990-11-15 2007-03-20 Plastic blow molded freestanding container

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/614,220 US5064080A (en) 1990-11-15 1990-11-15 Plastic blow molded freestanding container

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/771,636 Continuation US5139162A (en) 1990-11-15 1991-10-04 Plastic blow molded freestanding container

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US5287978A (en) * 1990-11-15 1994-02-22 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded freestanding container
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US6260724B1 (en) 1990-11-15 2001-07-17 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded freestanding container
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EP0650439A4 (en) * 1992-07-16 1995-05-10 Plastipak Packaging Inc. Plastic blow molded freestanding container.
EP0650439A1 (en) * 1992-07-16 1995-05-03 Plastipak Packaging Inc. Plastic blow molded freestanding container
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US5464106A (en) * 1994-07-06 1995-11-07 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Multi-layer containers
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US5664695A (en) * 1995-01-06 1997-09-09 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded freestanding container
US5906286A (en) * 1995-03-28 1999-05-25 Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. Heat-resistant pressure-resistant and self standing container and method of producing thereof
US6090334A (en) * 1995-03-28 2000-07-18 Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. Heat-resistance pressure-resistance and self standing container and method of producing thereof
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WO1997016351A1 (en) * 1995-11-01 1997-05-09 Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. Blow molded container and method of making
AU721474B2 (en) * 1995-11-01 2000-07-06 Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc. Blow molded container and method of making
USD419444S (en) * 1995-11-01 2000-01-25 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Container bottom
US5732838A (en) * 1996-03-22 1998-03-31 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded container having lower annular grip
US5785197A (en) * 1996-04-01 1998-07-28 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Reinforced central base structure for a plastic container
WO1997036789A1 (en) * 1996-04-01 1997-10-09 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Reinforced central base structure for a plastic container
US5906285A (en) * 1996-05-10 1999-05-25 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded container
WO1997043182A1 (en) * 1996-05-10 1997-11-20 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded container
WO1997044174A1 (en) * 1996-05-24 1997-11-27 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded container and method for making the container
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US6019236A (en) * 1997-09-10 2000-02-01 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic blow molded container having stable freestanding base
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US5988416A (en) * 1998-07-10 1999-11-23 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Footed container and base therefor
US6213325B1 (en) 1998-07-10 2001-04-10 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Footed container and base therefor
US6296471B1 (en) 1998-08-26 2001-10-02 Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation Mold used to form a footed container and base therefor
US6085924A (en) * 1998-09-22 2000-07-11 Ball Corporation Plastic container for carbonated beverages
US6693275B1 (en) 2000-03-23 2004-02-17 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Method and apparatus for inspecting blow molded containers
US7461756B2 (en) 2005-08-08 2008-12-09 Plastipak Packaging, Inc. Plastic container having a freestanding, self-supporting base
FR2910438A1 (en) * 2006-12-21 2008-06-27 Eaux Minerales D Evian Saeme S CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE PLASTIC BOTTLE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF
WO2008078033A2 (en) * 2006-12-21 2008-07-03 Sa Des Eaux Minerales D'evian Saeme Plastic bottle with a champagne base and production method thereof
WO2008078033A3 (en) * 2006-12-21 2008-11-13 Eaux Minerales D Evian Saeme S Plastic bottle with a champagne base and production method thereof
US20100032404A1 (en) * 2006-12-21 2010-02-11 Sa Des Eaux Minerales D'evian Saeme Plastic bottle with a champagne base and production method thereof
CN101616843B (en) * 2006-12-21 2011-11-30 埃维昂矿泉水有限公司 Plastic bottle with a champagne base and production method thereof
US8485375B2 (en) 2006-12-21 2013-07-16 Sa Des Eaux Minerales D'evian Saeme Plastic bottle with a champagne base and production method thereof

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AR248374A1 (en) 1995-08-18
KR0155347B1 (en) 1999-02-18
EP0557332A4 (en) 1993-12-08
PT99476B (en) 1999-02-26
EP0557332B1 (en) 1996-08-07
WO1992008647A1 (en) 1992-05-29
AU642560B2 (en) 1993-10-21
IL99943A0 (en) 1992-08-18
ES2090362T3 (en) 1996-10-16
DE69121246T2 (en) 1996-12-05
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NO180229C (en) 1997-03-12
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AU8876991A (en) 1992-06-11
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DE69121246D1 (en) 1996-09-12
JP3074020B2 (en) 2000-08-07
RU2096288C1 (en) 1997-11-20
CA2092817C (en) 1997-11-18
IE73233B1 (en) 1997-05-21
MX9101980A (en) 1992-07-08
NO180229B (en) 1996-12-02
NZ240290A (en) 1993-08-26
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ZA918429B (en) 1992-10-28
ATE141085T1 (en) 1996-08-15

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